Finding Home

by Irene Hannon

  Catch That Kid!

  One stubborn boy is getting the better of Scott Walsh. The very busy project manager keeps finding the kid on his dangerous construction site. One warning to the boy’s parents should take care of it. But when Scott meets widowed mother Cindy Peterson, she’s already carrying so much on her narrow shoulders. He wants to help Cindy and her boy, but didn’t he vow never to get involved with a family again? Scott can’t bear to break a child’s heart. But this time it’s his own heart asking for a chance.

  Enjoy a special 15th anniversary bonus story from Love Inspired Suspense, Dangerous Secrets by Shirlee McCoy

  “You look like you had a close encounter with a hard object.”

  Against the pallor of her skin, Cindy’s irises were an even more startling blue than Scott remembered. A sudden, unexpected urge to reach out and take her hand in a comforting clasp swept over him.

  “I was cleaning out a clogged gutter and the ladder tilted. I fell, hit my head and blacked out. What are you doing here?”

  Scott gave her a recap of Gram’s situation. “She’s had a rough year and a half. My grandfather died, she broke her hip and had to move into assisted living. I’m not sure how many more setbacks she can take.”

  Cindy’s eyes softened in empathy. “That’s a lot of trouble to deal with all at once.”

  “Yeah.” He raked his fingers through his hair, considering his next move. Might as well take the plunge. “Do you need a ride home?”

  Cindy blinked. “Um...thank you, but that’s too much of an imposition. I can call a friend.”

  No mention of a husband.

  Don’t push, Walsh. It’s none of your business.

  Books by Irene Hannon

  Love Inspired

  *Home for the Holidays

  *A Groom of Her Own

  *A Family to Call Her Own

  It Had to Be You

  One Special Christmas

  The Way Home

  Never Say Goodbye

  Crossroads

  †The Best Gift

  †Gift from the Heart

  †The Unexpected Gift

  All Our Tomorrows

  The Family Man

  Rainbow’s End

  **From This Day Forward

  **A Dream to Share

  **Where Love Abides

  Apprentice Father

  ††Tides of Hope

  ††The Hero Next Door

  ††The Doctor’s Perfect Match

  ††A Father for Zach

  Child of Grace

  §Seaside Reunion

  §Finding Home

  *Vows

  †Sisters & Brides

  **Heartland Homecoming

  ††Lighthouse Lane

  §Starfish Bay

  IRENE HANNON

  is an author of more than thirty-five novels. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA® Awards (the Oscar of romantic fiction), a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award and two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also named one of her novels a “Top 10 Inspirational Fiction” title for 2011. A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full-time from her home in Missouri. For more information, visit www.irenehannon.com.

  Irene Hannon

  Finding Home

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to Love Inspired! We’re celebrating our 15th anniversary this month, and you’re invited to the party!

  Love Inspired Books began in September 1997, offering readers inspirational contemporary romances. Fifteen years later, Love Inspired has never wavered from our promise to our readers; we are proud to publish short contemporary romances that feature Christian men and women facing the challenges of life and love in today’s world.

  In honor of our anniversary, we are showcasing some of our top authors in September. Irene Hannon, Arlene James and Lois Richer were part of the original lineup in 1997, and we’re supremely blessed that they are still writing for us in 2012. Jillian Hart and Margaret Daley have been part of the Love Inspired family since the early 2000s. And newcomer Mia Ross rounds out the month. We hope you enjoy these sweet stories full of home, family and love.

  As a special thank-you to our readers, each book this month contains a bonus story. Give them a try, and we know you’ll find our authors the very best in Christian romance!

  Thank you for reading Love Inspired.

  Blessings,

  Melissa Endlich

  Senior Editor

  To Tom—

  As we celebrate 23 years of marriage.

  May the magic continue!

  * * *

  Those whose steps are guided by the Lord,

  whose way God approves, may stumble,

  but they will never fall,

  for the Lord holds their hand.

  —Psalms 37:23–24

  Finding Home

  Irene Hannon

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Questions for Discussion

  Chapter One

  The kid was back.

  Again.

  Putting himself in danger.

  Again.

  Bracing against the gusty March wind on The Point, Scott Walsh squinted at the blond-haired boy. He was ten, maybe eleven. The perfect age to be tempted by all the heavy equipment on the Northern California headland. Twenty-five years ago, that could have been him. He, too, would have found the allure hard to resist.

  But empathy didn’t equate to tolerance.

  He flexed the fingers of his left hand and glanced down at the scars crisscrossing the back, the shiny white lines and limited mobility a constant reminder that when it came to safety, he couldn’t afford to be Mr. Nice Guy.

  Lips clamped together, he switched his focus back to the boy. The kid had been smart, waiting until the crew called it quits for the weekend before venturing out here. He’d also managed to elude the off-hours security guard, though that wouldn’t have been difficult. The long-retired Humboldt County deputy was more show than substance, his presence intended to deter rather than enforce.

  The boy’s back was to him as he examined the bucket on one of the giant excavators, then proceeded to check out the crawler treads that were as tall as he was. Last time he’d spotted the kid, Scott had yelled at him from across the construction site. The youngster had taken off before he got close.

  He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Scott wove through the obstacle course of equipment, trenches and lumber, where all of the foundation work for the upscale inn had been completed on schedule—as promised. Meeting deadlines was a sticking point with him and a hallmark of Walsh Construction. It was also one of the reasons Mattson Properties had chosen his firm to tackle the high-profile project. Not a day passed that he didn’t give thanks for this opportunity—and the much-needed income it was providing.

  The wind in the needled branches of the spruce and hemlock trees, along with the muted crash of surf on the rocks below the towering headland, masked his footsteps as he approached the excavator. He’d like nothing better than to grab the boy by the scruff of his neck and haul him back to his negligent parents. But touching him wouldn’t be smart. The parents could sue him for assault if they were ticked off. He’d have to settle for getting in the kid’s face and putting the fear of the Almighty into him.

  Not until his shadow fell o
ver him did the boy realize he had company. By the time he spun around, Scott was only two feet away.

  The youngster’s panicked gaze darted left, then right. He whipped his head around to look behind him, but the excavator treads cut off that avenue of escape.

  Scott invaded his space, placing his hands on the treads on either side of the boy’s head to pin him in. Long enough, he hoped, to get his message across.

  “I thought I told you two days ago to stay out of here.”

  The boy stared up at him in silence, eyes wide, face colorless.

  “Construction sites are dangerous. And so is this stuff.” Scott banged a hand against the metal body of the excavator above the kid’s head.

  The boy flinched and folded his body into a protective tuck.

  Then he started to shake.

  Scott frowned. He’d dealt with plenty of curious kids on job sites in Eureka, and most had been defiant. As a result, he’d ramped up his tough-guy stance over the past four years. But this wasn’t a big city like Eureka, where gangs and drugs caused problems. The only gang in tiny Starfish Bay was probably the group of seniors who met every Wednesday morning at the Mercantile’s coffee nook to OD on caffeine.

  A twinge of remorse tugging at his conscience, he softened his tone a fraction, eased back a few inches and planted his fists on his hips. “What’s your name?”

  The boy might be scared, but he was thinking clearly enough to see his opening. Instead of responding, he lunged past Scott and tore off for the woods, legs pumping, dirt flying.

  Scott stayed where he was as he cupped his hands around his mouth. “If I see you around here again, I’m going to call the county sheriff!”

  The boy cast a terrified look over his shoulder and kept running. Thirty seconds later, he disappeared behind the sheltering branches of the coniferous trees that separated the headland from the town.

  Scott waited a full minute, then pulled his keys from his pocket and set off for his SUV. He’d flag Al down on his way out and alert the guard to be on the lookout for trespassers. But he had a feeling he’d seen the last of the blond-haired interloper.

  Mission accomplished.

  Still...the image of the boy’s frightened face nipped at his conscience. Maybe he’d gone a little overboard with his intimidation tactics.

  He stopped beside his SUV, transferred his keys to his left hand so he could open the door—and watched them slip to the ground before his fingers could close over them.

  Expelling a frustrated breath, he bent to retrieve them. And as the dipping sun illuminated the shiny white spiderweb of lines on his hand, his lips settled into a resolute line.

  He didn’t like scaring kids—but if fear kept the boy safe, Scott could live with the guilt.

  * * *

  “Did something unpleasant happen at school today?”

  Cindy Peterson cut a bite of the Orchid Café’s famous pot roast and speared it with her fork, struggling to keep her tone conversational as she addressed her son. His reticence, his subdued manner, the way he was picking at his food—it was all a flashback to a year ago, reminding her of the weeks of grief counseling, her sleepless nights of worry, his slipping grades. But they were past that, weren’t they? Please, God, let us be past that!

  “No.”

  She watched Jarrod poke at the mashed potatoes he usually inhaled. “You’re very quiet tonight.”

  He shrugged.

  Okay. Time to regroup. Think this through with her head instead of her heart.

  Jarrod had had two big tests this week. It was possible he was just tired. She certainly was. The Humboldt County Historical Society worked with a lean staff at the best of times; losing one person had had a ripple effect on everyone. Cindy hadn’t liked staying late every night for the past three weeks or leaving Jarrod alone for an extra couple of hours after school, but what could she do? She needed this job—and right now, it needed her more than usual.

  Perhaps she was overreacting. It may simply have been a long week for both of them.

  “Would you like to watch a video tonight? I could make some chocolate chip cookies, too.” She forced herself to lift the fork to her mouth and chew the piece of pot roast that had grown cold.

  “I guess.”

  Bad sign. A video and cookies always elicited enthusiasm.

  The wad of meat got stuck in her throat, and she reached for her glass of water to wash it down. Took a long swallow. Inhaled a calming breath.

  “Jarrod.” She waited until he lifted his chin. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

  He wrinkled his brow. Indecision clouded his eyes, but he remained silent.

  “Did you have another run-in with Mark?” The class bully had chosen her son as a target a few months ago, further upsetting him for weeks. The little tyrant might be on the warpath again.

  “No.” He gave his potatoes another listless poke. Let out a long sigh. Slanted a look at her. “It’s no big deal, really. I know I promised to stay inside after school, but I got tired of being cooped up.” His grip tightened on his fork, and he licked his lips. “So tonight and Wednesday I went out to...”

  He stopped abruptly. Stared over her shoulder toward the café entrance. Paled.

  Swiveling in her seat, Cindy checked out the small foyer. A tall man in dirt-smudged jeans and work boots stood inside the entrance, a snug T-shirt outlining his broad shoulders and impressive biceps as he surveyed the crowded café.

  Behind her, a fork clattered to the floor. Her son dived for it as she turned.

  When he lingered below the table, she furrowed her brow and leaned sideways to check on him. “Jarrod? What’s going...”

  “Excuse me.”

  As the male voice spoke, a pair of well-broken-in work boots appeared in her field of vision.

  Cindy righted herself and found the man from the foyer standing beside their table. His glowering scowl suggested he had a temper to go with his dark auburn hair.

  But why would a stranger be angry with her?

  The man shot a quick look at her left hand, adorned only by a slender gold band. “I assume the boy hiding under the table is your son?”

  His accusatory tone stiffened Cindy’s spine, and she straightened in her seat. “He’s not hiding. Jarrod, sit back in your chair. We’ll get you another fork.”

  Her son slowly emerged from below the table, avoiding eye contact with her. That evasive maneuver, plus the telltale flush on his cheeks, set off warning bells in her head.

  “What don’t I know here?” She focused on Jarrod, but the stranger spoke.

  “I caught him trespassing on The Point twice this week. I warned him the first time. Today, I threatened to notify the sheriff. But a mother will do for now. Keep him away from the construction site. I don’t want any accidents on this job. Got it?”

  Warmth crept over Cindy’s cheeks as her own anger spiked. “You don’t have to be rude about it.”

  He flicked a glance toward the bulging briefcase on the seat beside her. “I do when parents don’t take responsibility for their kid’s safety.”

  His jab at her parenting skills stung.

  But it also produced a twinge of guilt. She hadn’t been as diligent as usual in the past couple of weeks, thanks to her job. And she didn’t want her son wandering around a dangerous construction site any more than this man did. Whoever he was.

  “It won’t happen again.”

  “Good.”

  “Here you go, Jarrod. I saw you drop yours from across the room.” Genevieve Durham came bustling over, waving a clean fork. She set it beside Jarrod’s plate and beamed at the new arrival, patting a stray wisp of white hair back into place. “Hello, Scott. Having dinner?”

  “I was, but I think I’ll head home instead. It’s been a long week. And not all of it pleasant.” He shot Cindy and Jarrod a narrow-eyed look.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I understand things are moving along on schedule at the inn, though. That’s a positive.”

&
nbsp; Genevieve and her sister, Lillian, could charm a smile out of almost anyone with their perennial upbeat attitudes. Cindy wasn’t surprised they’d made a rousing success of the Orchid. But the charm didn’t work on this man.

  “Yeah.” His lips remained flat.

  If Genevieve was aware of his bad temper, her sunny demeanor gave no indication of it. “Well, you drive safe and have a nice weekend.”

  “Thanks. I’ll try.”

  Without even glancing again toward mother and son, the man departed.

  Genevieve adjusted her glasses, propped her hands on her ample hips and inspected the plates on the table. “You two haven’t made much progress on my pot roast tonight. Did I forget to put in a spice? Are the potatoes undercooked?”

  “No. It’s wonderful, as usual.” Cindy wadded her napkin in her lap. “But we both had a busy week. I think we’re just tired.”

  “Busy, busy, busy. The story of modern life.” The older woman huffed out a breath. “That nice young man is forever on the run, too.” She gestured over her shoulder, toward the door where Scott had disappeared. “Eats so fast he hardly warms a chair—but I guess overseeing a job like Inn at The Point is a big responsibility.”

  “Is he the foreman?” Cindy took a sip of water, keeping one eye on Jarrod. His guilty flush told her he was dreading their upcoming one-on-one conversation.

  “Among other things. He’s eaten breakfast or dinner here a few times, but he doesn’t talk a lot about himself. I do know he owns Walsh Construction. A few of the guys on his crew stop in for breakfast on occasion, and from what I’ve overheard, he almost lives on the job site. And he’s very conscientious and safety-oriented.” Genevieve checked out their plates again. “Would you like some take-out cartons?”

  “That would be great. Thanks.”

  “Coming right up.”

  As Genevieve moved away, Cindy pushed her plate aside, rested her forearms on the table and folded her hands as she regarded her son. “You want to tell me your side of this?”

  “I was starting to tell you when he showed up.” He shot her a defensive look.